Rotary fluid coupling



July 4, 1950 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,7 f La l /z4 /lzs ,I 90 124er 727 k H n 66 66 7a 13o vf 7o 7&- 7L I /sa E aa U 5s as Q 6\ 59 as 4/ a7 64 6s ez k.. [32 :j 40 63 B t f 44 47 8 48 45 46 if 43 /7 0 z/ 42 76 4$Z 48 2/ i .sa s s f3 E Z4 fz 26 7 z5' sz 3/ ao C29 a z? s glu/UWM .FIG-Z GEORGE l? CASTNEI'? July 4, 1950 G. P. cAsTNER 2,513,845

ROTARY FLUID COUPLING Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 47 f J usarX gramo/vwo@ FLZ'E E GEORGE R CA s YNER www,

July 4, 1950 G. P. CASTNER ROTARY FLUID coUPLING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 FIEE fr H7 a GEORGEAP CASTNE/P (Immun,

July 4, 1950 G. P. CASTNER 2,513,845

ROTARY FLUID COUPLING Original Filed Aug. 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORGE P CASTNER a (5d, Q., A mja,

NOLUM;

Patented July 4, 1950 ROTARY FLUID COUPIJNG George P. Castner, Webster City, Iowa, assigner to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation o! Delaware Original application August 14, 1946, Serial No.

690,532. Divided and this application August 13, 1947, Serial No. 768,383

9 claims. l

This invention relates generally to improvements in clothes washing machines of the type in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and centrlfugally dried, and more particularly to imp'rovements in drive means for the receptacle in which the clothes are Spun to centrifugally extract the liquid.

In such machines there is provided a. receptacle or tub in which the clothes are washed and rinsed, and this receptacle, as it will hereinafter be called, is arranged for rotation about an upright axis, with mechanism for spinning it about said axis and so set up centrifugal force sumcient to throw out the wash or rinse liquid from the clothes. However, much dimculty has been encountered in this phase of the operation of these machines, due to the fact that the clothes are seldom evenly distributed about the axis of rotation and thus they represent an unbalanced load which when set in motion creates eccentric throw with great vibration and other harmful effects. The extent of this vibration, of course, increases with the speed at which the receptacle is spun, and in some cases to my knowledge, the maximum spin speed has to be purposely set so low for this reason that the extraction of the liquid is very imperfect. In other cases the machine as a whole has been bolted or otherwise fastened down so that it cannot move about on the oor although the vibration then still has other injurious eil'ects.

When an unbalance load is set in motion it is extremely desirable to cause the receptacle speed to accelerate gradually, and as the eccentrically disposed weight diminishes due to the expulsion of the water and the tendency of the clothes to distribute themselves around the spin axis, to then cause the speed to increase so that the extraction is finally as perfect as conditions will permit. What is needed, therefore, is a drive for the receptacle which is continuously sensitive to the amount of the eccentric load and which will transmit power to the receptacle in proportion to this load so that not only is a gradual acceleration accomplished but the final spin speed will be as high as is possible with the existing load conditions.

In accordance with my present invention, and as the primary object thereof, I accomplished these results and provide a simple and effective drive which will regulate the spinning rate of the receptacle exactly according to the varying eccentric load therein, said drive including as its essential and in this use novel feature a fluid drive coupling. Further in the accomplishment oi the object o! my invention I construct and arrange said fluid drive coupling in such manner as to secure the maximum initial slippage and gradual acceleration of the load and provide means for gradually picking up and setting the fluid in motion to transmit power exact- 1y according to requirements.

Still further and more specific objects will be discussed in the course of the following specification, reference `being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a, preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a washing machine wherein the clothes receptacle is driven according to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with certain parts broken out and in section to disclose interior parts.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view along the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view along the line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a, horizontal section along the line 6-5 in Fig. 1.

This application is a division from the joint application of Arthur D. Lund and myself, led August 14, 1946, Serial No. 890,532, for Washing Machine.

The machine in general as herein disclosed is identical to that shown in said prior joint application and comprises a housing or casing having a lower chamber A formed by an upwardly concaved base plate l2, vertical corner irons i3, and a surrounding wall plate Il, the latter of which may be in whole or part readily removed to give access to the mechanism contained within the chamber. This lower construction also includes a four sided angle iron frame l5 providing inwardly projecting ledges IB and lia.

The upper housing structure comprises an upwardly concaved bottom plate il, secured as at lli, to the ledge lla, and sealed at its upstanding peripheral flange I8 to the casing walls 20 to provide a fluid tight receptacle or chamber B. Extending upwardly from a center opening in the plate Il is an upstanding sleeve il, also sealed to the plate, so as to provide the annular water chamber B between itself and the walls 20. The upper edge oi the lower casing wall Il is preferably maintained in sealing contact with the flange i9 by a sealing strip 2l (Fig. 1). At its upper end the casing 20 has an inwardly curved 3 flange member fl upon which is seated the circular, removable lid or cover 28.

The washer is supported on four floor Jacks which are so designed that they may be adjusted to properly level the machine on an uneven or irregular floor. and will also prevent creeping of the machine due to vibration. Each of these jacks consists of a vertical bolt Il threaded in a nut 2t fixed on the base plate il and secured by a lock nut 2t. The lower end of the bolt has a ballsocket connection to an inverted cup or foot 2l permitting the latter to adjust itself to door surface irregularities. This cup 2l has a serrated ange resting on and imbedding itself in a rubber or resilient pad Il which is preferably cemented in proper selected position on the floor. With this construction it will be seen that the machine can be adjusted for equalized four point door support, while also being cushioned to absorb vibration and sumciently anchored to prevent creeping.

The washing, rinsing. and eentrifuging assembly is supported within the chamber B upon a spindle element projecting upwardly through the sleeve 2| from the operating and transmission assembly contained within chamber A. Both assemblies are primarily supported, as a single unit. upon a single central bearing or cushioned support. This support includes a cup 28. mounted in the plate i2, which, because of its inversely disced shape. provides rigid support. and within the cup there is a rubber block or pad It having an inner socket element 3| which releasably receives the lug I2 of a block Il mounted on the frame Il oi' the operating mechanism.

'I'he frame lt is composed oi' rigidly connected parts including a generally U-shaped member ll, to which the block ll is directly fastened. an irregularly shaped plate Il. and an upper but also irregularly shaped plate Il which is secured to the lower plate It by three spacers I8 and tap screws 39. The plate I1 has an integral. tube extension 40, which projects up within the sleeve 2i, with freedom for ample clearance with respect thereto, and this tube 4|! has upper and lower antifriction bearing rings 4| and 42, respectively. for centering a spindle Il having an internal shaft 44.

The frame 34 directly supports the power and transmission mechanism, while the spindle l! and shaft M further and additionally support the tub and washing elements. all of which will presently be described.

As will be evident, the entire combination assembly of frame, operating mechanism. and upper, washer unit will be primarily supported on the central bearing cushion Il, and. as a result. it becomes necessary to provide means for balancing such assembly in its perpendicular or vertical position. This is done by the devices now to be described and which also permit limited radial vibration and gyratcry deecticn, which is of paramount importance, particularly during the starting and spinning operations, as it operates to absorb vibrations and accommodates the machine to unbalanced load conditions that result when the clothes are not uniformly distributed in the drying receptacle.

To yieldably restrain the assembly in its normal, true vertical position. and to restore it thereto, there is provided a series of radial springs the inner ends of which are attached by adjustable eye bolts Il to corner brackets Il on the ledge Ita. In addition. the plate I1 is provided with radially extending pairs of bars or 4 l metalstrspsll,theinnerendsofwhichsresn chored rigidly to the plate. by bolts 5l, while the other or outer ends fricticnally engage bracket plates ll, attached to the ledge Il, through the medium of snubber discs il. These discs are held in frictional contact with the plates Il by bolts l! which also extend through the bars Il, and each bolt has a compression spring Il disposed between the lower bar 4I and an adjusting nut li on the bolt. It will be seen that the bolt opening Il, in the plate Il (Fig. 6) is relatively large so as to permit horizontal movements ofV the bars 4I, discs l2, and plate l1 with respect to the plates li, and it may further be noted that while the discs I2, of leather, liber or other composition material, have direct face contact with the plate il, their surfaces adjacent the bars Il have flanged metal covers or washers l1 to insure proper retention of the discs with respect to the bolts Il and bars Il.

The clothes receptacle C. comprises an axial sleeve $8 terminating at its lower end. in a conical section I0 that is rigidly secured to the top of the spindle ls by bolts III. The receptacle wall 6l is impcrforate throughout and has a slightly tapered. downwardly curved bottom flange Il that is secured in tight sealing engagement upon the outer rim 8l of the conical part M. The base portion of the cone DI has an elliptical trough or sediment trap M, into which sand and other sediment from the tub C will settle, and this sediment is carried of! by the tubes 8l. during the centrifuging operation as shown and claimed more specifically in my application Serial No. 636,304, filed December 2l. 1945, now Patent No. 2,470,140, issued May 17, 1949.

The upper ends of the tubes M. in the present instance. discharge into outwardly dared defiector pockets 80, in what is designated as a balancing ring l1. This ring is preferably of heavy cast material and is secured by tap screws Bl to the iiange rim B9 of the tub C. The ring is also provided with inset lugs lll, to engage the inner surface oi the tub wall, and between these lugs are openings 'il through which the fluid is expelled from the tub into the chamber B during the centrifuging operation. The ring 81 has an inwardly directed ilange l! to prevent the up- 'ward escape oi' clothes from the tub during the drying or spinning action thereof. Another and very important function of the ring is to counteract the tendency oci the tub to rotate eccentrically, with respect to a. true vertical axis, under an unbalanced load. Thus the weight of the ring not only in itself tends to stabilize the rotation but will further tend to correct "throw" because of the face that any tilting of the spindle axis from bearing center I! will correspondingly tilt or wobble the ring, and, as is well known. the centrifugal force or momentum imparted will set up a gyroscopic action and tend to restore the body to its correct axis of rotation. This effect is enhanced by the great height at which the ring is located upon the point l2, since the ring is on top of the receptacle and as far above point I! as the size of the casing will permit.

The tub C is rotated by the spindle l'l, on which it is mounted, and the latter is provided, at its lower end, with a pulley 'i3 driven by a. belt 'Il from a pulley 1I on the driven member 1B of a fluid coupling which also includes a driving member 11 (Fig. 5). The member 11 is mounted on the vertical shaft 'It of an electric motor l! carried by a bracket lil that is adiustably secured, as at BI. to the frame plate Il.

asians The iluid coupling 'lll-11 is of the turbine type. through which power is hydraulically transmitted by opposed, annularly spaced series of vanes or blades l2 and ill. but since the axis of the unit is vertically disposed and the unit is but partially illled with fluid, in the present instance, it will be seen that when the coupling is idle (as in Fig. 5) the power transmission fluid 84 is contained entirely within the driven member i6 and does not therefore contact the vanes or blades 82 of the driving member as would normally occur when the coupling axis is horizontal or the unit completely illled. Consequently rotation of the driving member 1l would not initiate the uid turbulence or circulation that is essential to this type of power transmission. For that reason, the driving member 11 is provided with paddle extensions or starting vanes 85 that project down into the fluid body within the inner edges of the blades 83 so as not to contact the latter. With this arrangement it will be seen that rotation of the member 11 will cause the extensions Il to act on the I'luid sufllcient to initiate and maintain the toroidal circulation required for power transmission. In addition to this novel .feature the fluid coupling cooperates as a unit to reduce throw" or eccentric vibration during centrifuging in a, manner later to be set forth.

'I'he actual clothes washing operation within the tub C is accomplished in somewhat conventional manner, by an oscillating agitator D, made up of a tubular sleeve 86, flared out at its bottom, in a, skirt 81, and having integrally formed, radial agitator blades 8B. The skirt edge 86 is spaced above and extends beyond the trap 64 so that sediment may escape downward and inwardly to the trap.

The upper end of the sleeve B6 has an integral hub 89 with an axial socket which is upwardly tapered and square or hexagonal in cross section to t snugly upon a similarly shaped plug I that is secured upon the upper end of shaft M by a pin 9|. Between the plug 2li and spindle Il is a flanged bushing 92 that serves as a bearing between the shaft M and spindle 58. The agitator D is held down in place upon the plug 90 by a cap 93 having a shank threaded into the end of the shaft. By removing the cap I3 the agitator can, of course. easily be removed and replaced.

The lower end of the shaft M has a vertically stationary clutch part 94 adapted to be engaged and disengaged by a, complemental clutch member 95, which is slidably keyed to a shaft 96 journaled in a transmission casing 81. The shaft 98 is oscillated by a linkage mechanism 99 which is not shown in detail but may be of the type shown and described in Patch Patent No. 1,964,440, issued June 26. 1934. This mechanism is actuated by a shaft 99 which is rotated in the housing, and which mechanism converts the rotary motion of the shaft to oscillatory motion o! the shaft 96. The shaft 99 projects upwardly from the casing 91 to support a pulley |00, driven by V-belt |l|| from a smaller pulley |02 on the shaft |03 of a, motor |04. This motor ls adjustably secured, as by bolts and slots |08, to the plate 36, in a manner permitting tension adjustment of the belt.

The clutch 94-95 is normally open or separated, as in Fig. l. but is closed or engaged by energizatlon of a solenoid |01 that operates a shipper lever |08. This is done automatically by an electric timer |09 as will presently be described.

The shaft |03, ot motor |94. carries a second pulley. Ill, which operates a V-belt to drive a pulley ||2 on the shaft ||3 of a centrifugal pump I4. This pump is adjustably secured to the plate Il by bolts H5, in slots H6, which are so arranged that adjustments can be made to slacken or tighten the belt I|| as may be required. The inlet side of the pump is connected H1 to a drain spout ||8 of the chamber B, and since the pump is subject to vibration with respect to the casing this conduit is preferably of exible tube or hose material. The outlet side of the pump is connected to a flexible conduit iis for discharging used iluid to a convenient point outside the casing.

Washing and rinsing water is introduced to the machine by a pipe or tube |20 which preferably extends in through a side wall of the casing It. and thence outwardly through the bottom plate l1 and to a coupler |2|. A second pipe |22 is detachably secured to the coupler |2| and extends lnwardly and slightly upwardly, terminating in a spray head |23 which it supports in an axial position over the tub C and slightly spacedi above the cap 93. Exteriorly of the machine the pipe |-2|l is adapted for connection with one or more mixing valves (not shown) so that water oi desired temperature and volume may be supplied to the spray head |23.

The spray head |23 has circular rows of openings Which deliver the liquid to the receptacle and a part of the liquid enters the tubular part |24 of a haine unit E which is mounted atop the agitator D by a set screw |25. This baille unit E has vanes |39 which enhance the washing operation as pointed out in the aforesaid patent application, Serial No. 690,532.

The timer |09 which controls the electric current to the two motors 'i9 and lill and to the solenoid switch lill is of conventional or standard design, well known in the art, and consequently neither it nor the wiring diagram is shown in detail. It is suillcient to note that in the present instance a start and stop switch for the timer may conveniently take the form of a dial l3l, mounted on top of the machine and connected to the timer by rod |32. This dial (Fig. l) can be set to control the duration of the washing operation but thereafter the extracting, rinsing and drying operations automatically follow at predetermined time intervals. It will also be understood that the timer may operate to control the sequence and supplies of hot and cold water in synchronism with the motor actuating so that once started the machine can function to complete the entire operation without manual adjustment or intervention.

Operation To wash. rinse and dry a batch of clothes the nature and cycle of the various operations. together with the various advantages flowing from the present construction. may be described as follows:

The desired amount of clothes placed in the tub C, and water of temperature is then filled in (under manual valve control) through the pipes |20 and |22, and spray head |23, until it reaches the predetermined water level line |33 (Fig. l). The lid or cover 22 is then closed and the dial |3| is set, by turning it to the desired number of wash minutes. The dial is then lifted to start the timer which closes the circuit to motor |04 and solenoid |01 to close clutch 94-95. The motor |04 then drives and soap are the required the Dump III through belt connection i'l i. and operates belt Ill Il tron mechanism II and clutch "-05, to oscillate the shaft M and agitator D secured thereon. The resultins washing process, as such, is of the well known action in which the agitator impellers I8 impart a turning or toroldal movement to the suspended clothes to subject the latter to constant contact with currents of the soapy water until clean. During this step of the process any grit, sand or other heavy foreign matter will ilnd its way into the sediment trap 6I, while any fluid or suds splashing over the tub and into the casing chamber B will be drawn of! through the drain ill by the pump lil which is constantly running.

A feature preferably reserved for the rinsing operation but which may also be used in the washing step consists of opening the water supply to the spray head |23 toward the end of the washing period. When this is done the water surface is raised above the level of line |33 and up to that of the openings 1I. The water from spray Ia flows up from the lower edge of the baille tube E, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. and the wider spray IZIa acts outwardly against the upper surface. The combined spray action has a tendency to stop or retard the normal rolling or tumbling rotation of the clothes and the spray Illa. acts to push the surface scum outwardly through the holes 1| and thus remove it from further contact with the clean clothes.

This action is supplemented by the fins IIB, of the baille unit, which nns are now operating below the level of the increased body of water and tend to fan or impel outwardly the scum disposed within the spray lua. This descumming step may be by either manual or automatic control.

When the washing operation is completed the solenoid i||1 is deenergized to disconnect the clutch Ql-IB which in turn stop the oscillations of the agitator D, while the motor IM continues to operate the pump ill.

The motor 1B is then energized and has as its sole function to spin the receptacle C through belt 1l, pulley 13 and spindle I3, to partially dry the clothes. It will be understood that under this centrifuglng action the water will be forced outwardly to the wall Bi of the receptacle and will then move upwardly along the tapered wall until it reaches the escape ports 1i from which it will be discharged into the chamber B for prompt removal by the pump lil. It will also be noted that the inner nange 12 of the balancing ring will prevent the upward escape of clothes during the centrifuging. while the elliptical form of the sediment trap and the arrangement of pipes Si will cause centrifugal flushing and discharge of any foreign matter that has settled in the trap.

During the first spinning operation, which may be maintained for approximately ve minutes it may be found desirable to give the clothes one spray flushing with hot water. 1n any event, and when the cleaning fluid has been substantially removed, the spinning motor (19) is deenergized. cold rinse water is supplied to the tub. and the clutch ill-95 is re-engaged to again activate the agitator D. After rotational tumbling of the clothes is now sufilcient to insure proper rinsing the clutch is again disengaged and the spinning motor is again operated to dry the clothes, for hanging or ironing.

The single cushioned support 32 in combination with the centering and shock absorbing springs l and snubbers B2 all cooperate to reduce vibration but I have found the fluid drive for the receptacle to fbe of substantial and distinctive importance in this connection due to the fact that it causes ak very gradual acceleration of the load when the receptacle is started on the spin cycle. and proportions the speed of the receptacle according to the load. As stated hereinbefore, and as well known to all skilled in this art, it is the eceentrically distributed load of the wet clothes. about the spin axis. which causes the injurious vibration and which in most cases sets a limit on the speed which may be used for extraction.

The fluid coupling unit 15--11 according to my invention is believed to be broadly new in its application to this purpose and the comparatively high initial slippage factor obtained by placing the iluid drive unit on an upright axis and by only partially filling with fluid so that the fluid at the outset clears the imponer 11 is very advantageous. It is found in practice that the very heavy load of a badlly distributed wash of clothes may thus he set in motion without any sudden high surges of current to the driving motor and the electrical load is thus also cushioned. This has the further beneficial effect of allowing the motor starting switch to throw out immediately so that the motor starts oif at practically full speed and the danger of burn out is eliminated.

In addition to the gradual acceleration of the' load due to the high initial slippage factor of the fluid coupling it is further an important feature of the machine or phase of the fluid drive that it automatically compensates for varying load conditions and limits the maximum speed of the receptacle to a safe value for varying eccentric loads. Put in another way it may be said that the flexibility of the fluid drive. co-acting with the energy absorbing means, represented 'by the receptacle and its load. provides for the action of slowing down the machine when out-of-balance.

Actually the slippage rate in this type of fluid drive may have a rate of change which has a straight line relationship to the eccentric load but at a fairly critical point, as regards the amount of duid in the coupling related to its vane size and other factors. it is found that beyond a certain eccentric load. say for example three pounds, the slippage rateA suddenly increases rapldly thus providing a safety factor such that the larger eccentric loads will not be spun at a rate exceeding the capacity of the balancing mechanism of the machine to control deflection of the receptacle and possible damage. In the present machine and based on present knowledge the drive unit will be filled less than half-full of fluid to achieve this operation.

As an example of the conditions which may occur in practice the following figures, while not constituting limits, are taken from test runs of the machine and indicate the accommodation of the fluid drive unit to the varying load conditions thus assuming the receptacle IB to be empty or in a balance condition its speed may he '120 R. P. M., then- If the eccentric load be: Tub speed is: None 0r balanced 720 R. P. M. l pound 690 R. P. M. 2 'pounds 670 R. P. M. 3 pounds 610 R. P. M. 5 pounds 565 R. P. M. 'l pounds 350 R.P.M.

The foregoing table contemplates an initial no load slippage factor of approximately 18 per cent based on a motor speed ot 174i) R. P. M. and a speed reduction between the pulleys 1li and 13 of two to one so that the speed at the pulley 13 with no slippage would be 870 R. P. M. Thus. the slippage factor varies (from no load to '1 pound eccentric load. which is the maxlxnum here given and represents an extreme condition seldom encountered). from 18 per cent to better than 50 per cent but for practical purposes a range of 7 per cent to 50 per cent might be considered as suitable for my purposes.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine having a receptacle adapted to be rotated by a driven shaft. a motor, a hydraulic drive coupling comprising vertically opposed vaned elements mounted for rotation about an upright axis. and one of which forms an outer sealed chamber about the other, the upper vaned element being driven by the motor and the lower vaned element being connected to said driven shaft to drive the same, fluid in said sealed chamber of an amount such that the surface level thereof will be below and out of driving contact with the vanes of the upper element when the lower element and fluid are in repose. and means responsive to rotation of the upper element for engaging the fluid when in repose and moving it into contact with the vanes of the upper element to gradually establish driving contact of the iluid between the opposed elements whereby initial resistance to rotation by the driven shaft will be progressively absorbed by the torque of the motor running at normal speed.

2. In a centrifugal extractor having a rotatable receptacle adapted to be driven by a driven shaft. a motor, hydraulic drive connection between the motor and shaft comprising a coupler mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. said coupler including opposed upper and lower vaned elements the upper of which is driven by the motor and the lower of which is connected to the driven shaft to drive the same, one of said elements having a casing portion enclosing the other element and forming with itself a sealed chamber for containing driving fluid, driving iluid in said chamber in an amount substantially less than the total capacity thereof whereby drive connection by the fluid will permit variable slippage between the elements in response to varying degrees of resistance offered by the driven shaft.

3. In a centrifugal extractor having a receptacle mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted to be driven by a driven member, a motor, a hydraulic drive coupler for transmitting torque from the motor to the driven member comprising a casing mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and connected with the driven member to drive the same, said casing forming a sealed chamber for containing an amount of transmission uid less than the total capacity of the chamber, turret vanes carried by the casing in the lower part of the chamber, a vaned impeller mounted in the upper part of the chamber in vertically opposed position to the turret vanes for driving the casing, said impeller being driven by the motor, andmeans carried by the impeller for engaging the transmission fluid when in repose to progressively establish power transmitting contact of the iluid with the impeller vanes when the impeller is initially driven by the motor.

4. A device for driving a rotatable load member from a motor comprising vertically opposed upper and lower fluid coupling elements operatively supported ior rotation about a generally upright axis and connected, respectively, to the motor and load member. the upper coupling element having depending vanes and the lower coupling element having upwardly extending vanes. means enclosing the coupling elements for supportinga fixed charge of fluid in cooperative relationship to the coupling elements for establishing a variable slip iiuid drive connection between the motor and load member, the volume of said fixed charge of fluid being such that it will stand at a level below the vanes depending from the upper coupling element when the coupling elements are at rest, and means for vortexing the iiuid in response to the initial motion of the upper coupling element to actuateihe iluld into driving engagement with the vanes of both elements.

5. A device for driving a rotatable load member from a motor, comprising upper and lower i'luid coupling elements operatively supported for rotation about a generally upright axis and operatively connected, respectively, to the motor and load member. the upper coupling element having an annular series of depending vanes and the lower element having an annular series of vanes in opposed positions with respect to the vanes of the upper coupling element, means supporting a fixed charge of iluid in cooperative relationship to the coupling elements for establishing a variable slip iiuid drive connection between the motor and load member, the said ilxed charge of fluid being such that it will stand at a level below the vanes depending from the upper coupling element when the coupling elements are at rest, and means on the upper coupling element for engaging and gradually actuating the fluid into transmission contact with the vanes of the upper coupling element.

6. In a centrifugal extractor having a rotatable clothes receptacle adapted to be rotated by a driven member, a motor, and a mechanism for transmitting power from the motor to the driven member comprising superimposed upper and lower vaned fluid coupling elements operatively supported for rotation about a generally upright axis and operatively connected to the motor and driven member, respectively, the upper coupling element having an annular series of depending vanes, means supporting a xed charge of iluid in cooperative relationship to the coupling elements for establishing a variable slip fluid drive connection between motor and driven member. the said fixed charge of fluid being of such volume that it will stand at a level below the vanes of the upper coupling element when the coupling elements are at rest, and means carried by the upper coupling element and extending below the operating faces of the vanes thereof so as to engage the charge of fluid and operative upon rotation of the upper element by the motor to set the fluid in motion and agitato it into power transmitting engagement with the vanes o! the upper coupling element.

7. In a centrifugal extractor having a rotatable clothes receptacle adapted to be rotated by a driven member. a motor, and a mechanism for transmitting power from the motor to the driven member comprising superimposed upper and lower vaned fluid coupling elements operatively supported for rotation about a generally upright axis and operatively connected to the motor and driven member, respectively, the upper coul1 pllng element having an annular series of depending vanes. means supporting a fixed charge of fluid in cooperative relationship to the coupling elements for establishing a variable slip fluid drive connection between motor and driven member, the said fixed charge oi fluid being of such volume that it will stand at a level below the vanes of the upper coupling element when the coupling elements are at rest, and means carried by the upper coupling element and extending below the operating faces oi' the vanes thereof so as to engage the charge of fluid and operative upon rotation of the upper element by the motor to set the fluid in motion and agitate it into power transmitting engagement with the vanes of the upper coupling element, said fluidengaging means consisting of at least one agitating member that extends down into the lower coupling element to a point radially within the vanes thereof.

8. In a laundry machine having a rotatable clothes receptacle for the centrifugal extraction of fluid from the clothes and adapted to be driven by a driven member, and a motor for driving the driven member, power transmission from the having vanes extending downwardly in opposed relationship above said fluid actuated vanes of the coupling housing, the amount of transmission fluid in the housing being such that the `surface level thereof will be below and out of contact with the vanes of the driving element when the latter is .n repose, and means responsive to rotation of the driving element by the motor for engaging and gradually establishing transmission contact of the fluid in the lower part of the housing with the driving element whereby initial resistance to rotation by the driven member will be progressively absorbed by the torque oi' the motor running at normal speed.

9. In a centrifugal extractor having a clothes receptacle mounted for rotation about an axis but having freedom for eccentric deflection with respect to said axis in response to an out-ofbalance load condition in the receptacle and adapted to be rotated by a driven shaft, a motor, a drive connection between the motor and driven shaft comprising a fluid coupling disposed for operation about a vertical axis, said coupling comprising a pair oi' rotatably opposed vaned elements the upper of which is driven by the I motor and the lower of which is driven by the upper element and connected to said shaft to rotate it, one of said elements having a casing portion enclosing the other element .and forming with itself a sealed chamber for containing a predetermined amount of driving fluid less than the total capacity of the coupling, whereby drive connection by the fluid between the elements will permit variable slippage therebetween in response to increased resistance produced by the driven shaft when the latter is subjected to varying degrees of such out-of-balance load.

GEORGE P. CASTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,932,246 Kirby Oct. 24, 1933 1,957,124 Yahn May l, 1934 1,968,692 Krauss July 3l, 1934 2,088,818 Skinner Aug. 3, 193'? 2,294,994 Maze Sept. 8, 1942 2,330,595 Hertrich July 31, 1945 FOREIGN Pit-TENTS Number Country Date 231,763 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1925 607,615 Germany e- Jan. 3, 1935 

